Flushing apparatus.



No. 731,107. PATENTEDJUNE 16, 1903.

R. P GILLIN.

, FLUSHING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION rILnn m. 28', 1902.

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No. 731,107. PATBNTED-JUNEIG, 190a.

- R. P. GILLIN. FLUSHING APPARATUS.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1902.

NO MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

ROBERT F. GILLIN, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,107, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed January 28, 1902. Serial No. 91,566. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. GILLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Flushing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The subject of this invention is an improved flushing apparatus for water-closets, and relates more especially to the valve for controlling the flow of water to the closet and to the supply of water and air to the tank from which the flow is obtained. Difficulties due to limited space, unsatisfactorylocation, and varying conditions of water-service are frequently encountered in installing apparatus of this class.

The object of this invention is to supply a valve and connections especially adapted and equipped for service in all situations and under all conditions likely to be met.

The invention consists in certain details of construction and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the invention as applied in several differing conditions.

Figure 1 is a view showing in front elevation a plurality of closet-bowls equipped with my improved valve and adapted to be all supplied from a closed tank. Fig. 1 is a plan View of one of the valves and its connections shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a central section, on a larger scale, showing the valve indicated atthe right in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a face view showing a portion of the valve-operating lever of the preceding figure. Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, showing the valve as arranged at the closets at the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 4 showing a detail. Fig. 6 is a partial section and elevation of the water-tank shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a partial section and elevation showing a detail of the preceding figure. Fig. 8 is a partial section and elevation showing the construction of the valve-stem and its connections. Fig. 9 is an elevation corresponding in some respects to Fig. 1, but showing different arrangements of tank and valves. Fig. 10 is a tank of the preceding figure and its connections.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures, difierent arrangements being distinguished bysupernumerals.-

I will first describe the valve and its operating means and connections as installed in the two positions shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, with a closed elevated tank receiving water from the usual house service-pipe and delivering it to the several ClOSGtmbOWiS and receiving air through a pipe directly connected to one of the valve-casings.

A is one of a series of closethowls (see the extreme right in Fig. l) of any ordinary orapproved type, and B is a water-supply pipe leading thereto from a valve-casing M, to which it is connected by a slip-joint at B. The valve-casing is a casting having exteriorly-screw-threaded nipplesM M and interiorly-threaded nipples M M arranged at right angles to the former, the whole having a general resemblance to a cross. The nipple M receives a pipe 0, leading from a tank N above, and the nipple M receives the pipe B, leading to the bowl. Communication from the nipple M to the discharge-nipple M is through an opening min a diaphragm or par tition M having a valve-seat M surrounding the openingand adapted to receive a disk valve M serving to control the opening and admit and arrest the flow from the tank N. The disk M is mountedon a spindle or long valve-stem M M and extending in both directions from its center. The portion M on the rear face of the disk extends axially of the nipple M and is received in a tubular guide L on theinterior of a peculiarly-formed elbow L, threaded to match to the nipple M The disk is urged to its seat by a helical ex-.

panding spring. M abutting at one end against the rear face of the disk and at the other in the annular groove surrounding the guide L.

On one side of the elbow L is a nipple L upon which is screwed the casing of an upwardly-opening check-valve L the latter receiving the end of a pipe L bringing water under service-pressure from the street-main or other source. Water entering through the partial section and elevation showing the pipe L raises the check-valve and passing behind the disk M and through the pipe 0 enters the closed tank N and rises therein until the pressure of the air imprisoned in the upper portion of the tank equals the service-pressure. The check L then falls and retains the water under pressure until released.

The valve-casings for the other bowls A A of the series shown in Fig. 1 are in all respects similar to the casing M described. It may be well to state here that the valve-casings are the same under all circumstances and in all conditions, but differently placed and equipped to meet requirements.

The nipple M is closed by a screw-cap K, similar to the elbow L, but Without the connection for the pipe L It has a hexagonal head K, by which it may be screwed home, and is provided on its interior with a tubular guide K and annular groove receiving the spindle M" and spring M, as before.

The closets A A receive water from the tank N through a branch pipe 0, joining the pipe C below the tank and extending along in rear of the closets, preferably within the wall of the room. Near each bowl is a nipple C to which is secured a horizontally-lying elbow C from which extends a pipe 0 joined to the nipple M of the valve-casing. and C is a pipe corresponding to the pipe B for the bowl A, leading from the nipple M to the adjacent bowl. It will be observed that in the arrangement of valves for the closets A the cap K is below and the valve-spindle stands vertically instead of horizontally, as at closet A. If either of the valve-disks M of the series he forced from its seat against the tension of its spring, the water in the pipe 0 and its branch and the water in the tank N will escape through the opening m in the diaphragm M ofthat valve-casing and rush into the bowl and perform its cleansing function therein, the efficiency being greatly increased by the initial rush due to the action of the com pressed air in the tank. The water continues to flow until the supply is exhausted or the valve allowed to seat itself.

i/Vheu'the closed tank is employed, provision must be made for the ingress of air to supply the partial vacuum produced by the egress of water and allow the tank to be emptied. In the form now under consideration air is admitted through a pipe H, inclosed in the pipe 0 and extending from an opening 71. in the upper horizontal portion of the diaphragm M at the closet A, in communication with the bowl side of the diaity in contact with the seat, the latter being tapered or having an annular ridge or lip adapted to form with the packing an efficient seal. Thusconstructedthecupisheld gently to its seat ready to open so soon as the pressure in the tank falls below atmospheric, but be strongly forced to its seat as the pressure in the tank rises, and as it lies normally submerged any leakage will be water instead of air until the water-level has fallen sufficiently to uncover the valve. The leakage, if any, flows through the air-pipe-H to the valve-casing and thence through the diaphragm to the bowl. The valve-stem M on the bowl side of the diaphragm extends through a hollow screw-plug J, screwed into the nipple M and having a stuffing-box J. The stem is acted upon by a hand-lever arranged to force it inward against the spring M At the closet A this lever (marked l) lies parallel with the back wall and is 'pivoted at t to an arm 1, formed on a collar 1 held between the flange J of the plug J and the face of the nipple M The lever has 9. lug I faced to apply against the projecting end of the stem and is equipped with a handle 1*, by which it maybe conveniently graspe 1 is a yoke or fiat vertical loop secured to the back wall and serving as a guide for the lever and also through the medium of ascrew l as an adjustable stop for limiting the downward movement of the lever and insuring against derangement of the valve.

The levers G for the closets at A extend horizontally outward alongside of the bowl from the back Wall and are pivoted at g to an arm G on a collar Gr similar to the collar 1 but equipped with a yoke G formed in one with the collar and inclosing the lever, as shown in Fig. 4. A screw G inserted in the'lower portion of the yoke, limits the throw, as before. The screws 1 and G are shown as having rubber buttons 1 G on their ends to soften the impact and lessen the noise. As an additional limiting means I introduce screws I G, inserted through the arms I G, so arranged as to be struck by suitable lugs on the levers I andG, as will be understood.

To insure the slow closing of the valve M and provide for a sulficient period of flow, while allowing the operating-lever to be released immediately after depression, I employ a dash-pot consisting of a cupped-leather piston F, secured to the valve-stem M and received in a corresponding cylinder J formed in the screw-plug J, and provide contracted passages communicatingwith both sides of the piston to allow water or air to pass slowly from behind the piston and cause the latter to move slowly in opposition to the force of the spring M in seating the valve.

m is a passage formed by boring the valvespindle M axially from the point m on one side of the piston to the point m on the opposite side and counterboring the opening from the pointmt to the outer end of the spindle. Lateral passages at m and m are ICC spindle M and serving to conceal and protect the screw-valve and also offering a convenient surface to be acted upon by the operating-lever. and easily replaced when worn.

An additional channel m may be produced in the valve-casing with communicating passages m m on each side of the piston, as in Fig. 2, controlled by the screw M on the exterior of the casing.

An opening similar to h is provided in the lower horizontal portion of the partition M to receive the air-pipe H when the conditions are such as to require the reversal of the casing. The opening not in use is closed by a plug H In Fig. 9 is shown a series of closets receiving water from a closed elevated tank, but with dilferently-arranged water and air supply pipes. In this form the tank may be located at any convenient point and connected by a pipe 0 to the branches 0 C Water is supplied to the tank by a pipe L leading to a checked elbow similar to L, screwed into a T connection on the pipe 0 independent of the valve-casing. The air-supply pipe H is also independent and may enter the lower part of the tank and terminate in an air-valve similar to the valve Hor may enter through the top by a pipe H having an upwardlyopening check-valve H Both pipes H and H may be joined below the tank, as shown, but in any case should lead to a point where any water leaking past the valve may be safely delivered. When thus installed, both openings h in the diaphragm must be closed by screw-plugs H The levers operating the discharge-valves in Fig. 9 are shown as variously disposed and differing from the arrangement in Fig. 1 and illustrate the adaptability of the casing and its connect-ions.

The valve-casing and valve-operating mechanism will work successfully with water supplied from an open tank of the usual construction placed at sufficient elevation to insure the required rapid flow. The volume of water allowed to pass the valve may be regulated by increasing or diminishing the rate of travel of the dash-pot piston, as will be understood.

The valve and its connected parts are preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 8, in which the stem M carries the disk M and holds its packing-ring against a suitable flange by screwing into the enlarged mid-length por tion of the stem, also carrying a flange at the opposite end, forming part of the cuppedleather piston F, into which is screwed the flanged end of the hollow spindle M .It will be observed that the same valve-casing serves in all the positions shown, the different requirements being filled by positioning the casing difierently and by adding or removing or substituting some of the equipments.

Closets equipped with my improved apparatus present a neat appearance, and the apparatus, while not expensive, is peculiarly efficient and noiseless in operation.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions. Instead of a slip-joint between the valvecasing and the bowl, as shown, other modes of connection, as an ordinary screw-joint, may be employed. The valve-casings may be made with one or both the openings hin thediaphragm omitted if the position of the bowl relatively to the tank with which it is to serve be known and the inclosed air-pipe H is not to be used. One or the. other of the adjustable stops employed to limit the movements of the operating-1evers may be dispensed with, as may also one of the modes shown for controlling the rate of travel of the dash-pot piston.

Fig. 5 shows the arm G of the collar G2 secured to the adjacent wall by a bracket P, receiving the pivot g, on which the lever G is mounted. This arrangement transfers the torsional strains to the wall and prevents throwing the parts out of position by undue pressure in operating the lever. The attachment to the wall may be omitted or may be differently arranged.

In the construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10, R is a water-inlet pipe controlled by a check-valve R, adapted to serve in delivering water to the elevated tank when either of the other means shown are found to be inexpedicut. The pipe R extends nearly to the bottom of the tank to lessen the noise of the entering water.

I claim 1. I11 a flushing apparatus the combination with a valve-casing having oppositely-disposed nipples adapted to serve for either inlet or discharge, and formed with an interior diaphragm at right angles to the passage through said nipples and with nipples in line with each other at angles to the first-mentioned nipples, interchangeable cap and screw-plug detachably secured to the lastmentioned nipples, a valve adapted to seat in said diaphragm, a stem carrying said valve and a piston movable with said stem as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a flushing apparatus the combination with a valve-casing having oppositely-dis posed nipples adapted to serve -for either inlet or discharge, and formed with aninterior diaphragm at right angles to the passage through said nipples and with nipples in line with each other at angles to the first-mentioned nipples, interchangeable cap and screw-plug detachably secured to the lastmentioned nipples, a valve adapted to seat in said diaphragm, a stem carrying said valve,

a piston movable with said stem, said diaphragm being provided with openings, and removable plugs for closing the same.

3. In a flushing apparatus the combination with a valve-casing communicating with a closed elevated tank and a closet-bowl respectively, ofachecked water-supply for the tank, a discharge-valve controlling the water-passage through said casing, removable interchangeable cap and screw-plug for said casing, a diaphragm intermediate opposite nipples of the casing and having opening and valve-seats, said casing being formed with nipples in linewith said diaphragm, a discharge-valve seated upon said seat of the diaphragm to control the water-passage through the casing, an air-pipe leading from the easing at the bowl side of the valve and extending up into the tank, a piston movable with the said valve, and a normally closed gravitating self-closing air-valve in a chamber depending from an elbow of the said cap and arranged to be submerged by a normal volume of water in the tank, substantially as described.

4. The valve-casing described comprising the nipples M and M each adapted to serve either for inlet or discharge, the diaphragm M having the opening m, the nipples M M in line'with said opening each adapted to serve with a cap or with a screw-plug J as desired, in combination with interchangeable cap and screw-plug detaohably secured to said nipple -M M and a valve adapted to close said opening and having a stem guided in said cap and screw-plug and extending through a stuffing-box on the latter, and a spring M between said valve and cap tending to seat said valve.

5. The valve-casing described comprising the nipples M and M each adapted to serve either for inlet or discharge, the diaphragm M having the opening m, the nipples M M in line with said opening each adapted to serve with a cap or with a screw-plugJas desired, in combination with a valve adapted to close said opening and having a stem guided in said cap and screw-plug and extending through a stuifing-box on the latter, a spring M between said valve and cap tending to seat said valve, and a collar having an arm carrying a lever adapted to engage the projecting end of said valve to operate the latter, the said collar adjustabl y secured to said casing by said screw-plug.

6. ln flushing apparatus, the combination with a valve-casing adapted for communication with a water-supply and closet-bowl respectively, and detachable interchangeable cap and screw-plug therefor, of a valve controlling said communication, a valve-stem therefor projecting exteriorly of the casing, and means for operating said valve, of a detachable dash-pot cylinder a dash-pot in line with said valve,a dash-pot piston on said valvestem, a longitudinal passage m in the dashpot cylinder and lateral passages m and m com municatiug therewith from opposite sides of said dash-pot piston, and the screw-plug M on the exterior of said detachable cylinder arranged to control the flow of dash-pot fluid through said passages and a lever-supporting collar adjustably secured to the easing by and mounted upon said screw-plug.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT E. GILLIN.

' Witnesses:

Ronr. CONNOR, CHARLES R. SEARLE. 

